While today marks Nigeria’s 53rd Independence the country is facing many challenges. Yet despite the troubling times, Nigeria remains a great, youthful and exuberant nation with promises of a better tomorrow for its people. In these times it’s even more important to commemorate the 53rd Independence of the country. Senate President David Mark, House of Representatives Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and governors Leaders have asked Nigerians to not despair in the turbulent times.
According to them, better days are ahead as Nigeria, with the support of its leaders and their followers, will overcome its challenges to realize its potential as a great nation. United States President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, also commented on Nigeria’s 53rd anniversary, expressing hope of stronger ties between Nigeria and both nations in the coming years.
Though Nigeria has yet to accomplish all of its dreams, the country has recorded achievements that should not be ignored. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, the Senate President said: “Besides the infrastructure developments across the country, we now have skilled and qualified manpower in virtually all fields of human endeavor.”
He implored Nigerians to renew their hopes and faith in the capacity to rise to internationally acceptable standards of living and sought their support and cooperation in the task of nation building.
“All of us may not be good doctors, good lawyers, good writers or good engineers, but we can all contribute our quotas where we have comparative advantages to make our country a better place.
“We must therefore strive to harness our human and material resources in a way and manner that would engender development in all ramifications,” he added.
Mark, while lamenting the challenges of insecurity facing the nation, canvassed for a review of the strategy with a view to ending the menace.
He expressed optimism that Nigeria would overcome all these challenges, but added that there must be justice to all, irrespective of ethnic, religious or political leanings, fairness and equitable distribution of national resources.
“One thing is certain that no matter the misgivings, all Nigerians have come to accept that one united, indivisible nation is far better than a fragmented one. Therefore it becomes incumbent on all of us to do our utmost best honestly to make the project Nigeria work,” he said.
Tambuwal, in his message, urged Nigerians not to allow the present challenges confronting the nation affect their determination to foster unity, peace and reconciliation among one another.
“I call on all Nigerians to join the present crusade to reinvent and transform Nigeria; and in this wise, I urge hope, courage, perseverance, prayers, reconciliation, peaceful co-existence and patriotic fervor to build the Nigeria of our dreams as no one else would do that for us,” he said.
